President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has attended the opening of the Goygol Olympic Sports Center.

Over the past 10 years, Azerbaijan has made significant strides in the field of sports. Thanks to the attention being paid to sports by President Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan has earned a worthy place in the world as a sporting nation. Sportsmen representing the independent Azerbaijan today achieve great successes on a global scale. Both Baku and the regions of Azerbaijan regularly host sports competitions of regional and international importance at the highest possible level. An exceptional role in this process is played by modern sports facilities in the regions. As a result of the state policy, all the regions of Azerbaijan are creating wonderful sports infrastructure with all the necessary facilities. One of such facilities is the Goygol Olympic Sports Center. Such centers are further evidence that the government is working hard to promote sports in the country, encourage young people's interest in sports and achieve new victories in this area. The attention being paid to sports in Azerbaijan is perceived around the world with great approval. As a result, Azerbaijan will play host to the inaugural European games in 2015 and to Islamic Solidarity Games in 2017.

President Ilham Aliyev cut the ribbon symbolizing the opening of the Goygol Olympic Sports Center.

Informing the President about the new center, Youth and Sports Minister Azad Rahimov said that according to the "State program on the socioeconomic development of districts of the Republic of Azerbaijan in 2009-2013" the construction of the Goygol Olympic Sports Center began in late 2010. In the lobby of the building there are photo stands describing the meetings of nationwide leader Heydar Aliyev and President Ilham Aliyev with the public and sportsmen of Goygol District. The gyms are fitted with the most sophisticated sports equipment. The center also has a modern swimming pool. There is a universal gym, wrestling gyms, chess and boxing rooms, rooms for the coaches, a conference room and other necessary facilities. The universal gym has all the conditions for conducting a variety of sports events and is designed for 780 spectators.

The infrastructure of the center meets the latest requirements. The cottages built in accordance with international standards have all the conditions for recreation.

Also available at the center is an outdoor football stadium. The stadium meeting FIFA standards has running tracks around it. The stadium has covered stands which can seat up to 1,300 spectators.

The President was informed that athletes from Goygol District have won major victories in international and national sports competitions. Currently there are two European and 14 world champions in various sports in the district.

After reviewing the Goygol Olympic Sports Center, the President met with representatives of the local public. President Ilham Aliyev said:

- An Olympic Center has been built in Goygol and we are celebrating its opening today. I congratulate you! There are all the opportunities for doing sports here. When I enquired, I was told that Goygol District did not have any sports facilities at all. Now there are such excellent opportunities. The center has been built at the highest level – the pool, game and training gyms, and the beautiful architecture. There are also cottages and a hotel. So this center is very important for the development of the district. It will operate a chess club.

Therefore, we expect good results from Goygol athletes. There should be good results and victories both in national championships and in international tournaments. Now, after such conditions have been created, there should be good results because sport is growing rapidly in Azerbaijan. We have achieved great heights in the world of sports. Azerbaijan is a sporting nation today. We have many medals, athletes, world and Olympic champions. Last year alone we had four world champions in Olympic sports. In 2012 we won a great victory in Summer Olympics. In student games our young athletes multiplied the glory of the Azerbaijani sport. So we have asserted ourselves as a sporting nation. This positive trend should be continued. In order to achieve this, children and teenagers should do sports everywhere, in every district. We are creating these conditions.

The Goygol Olympic Sports Center is the 41st regional center to be built in Azerbaijan. Besides Baku, we already have excellent opportunities for doing sports in 41 cities.

Baku is preparing for the European games. New sports facilities are under construction – the Olympic Stadium, the Aquatic Center, the Center for Shotgun Shooting, the Gymnastic Complex. The previously constructed sports facilities are renovated. We will conduct the European games next year, and I am sure we will conduct them at a high level.

Problems associated with sports will be resolved in Goygol now. An effective training process should be organized here. At the same time, our national teams should also be able to train here. In short, I am sure that the Goygol Olympic Center has a brilliant future.

In general, I took part in several ceremonies in the district today. Among them, of course, I want to emphasize the water and sewage project. You are well aware that water supply has been a perennial problem in Goygol. Clean and high-quality drinking water has always been a problem. This problem has already been resolved.

Perhaps the cleanest and the best quality water in our country is supplied to Goygol now. The city is fully provided with drinking water. Water is supplied to seven villages along this line. In the future, the water problem will be solved in other villages too. This is a historic project, a historic achievement because this territory, this district have never had good quality water.

This is a manifestation of our policy and the strength of the Azerbaijani state. Azerbaijan implements these major projects for public health and for a comfortable life. A 25-km line has been built from a mountain spring and major funds spent. An artificial lake was created in the mountains. It is a water basin which will provide the people with clean drinking water. According to my information, the gas problem has been solved in the city by 100 per cent. Goygol city is fully gasified now. Half of the villages are also gasified. This has never happened before. We have built has lines here too and provided 100 per-cent supply.

Electricity problems have also been resolved. Rural roads are built. One project is under way and another will be realized. Proposals have been made. We must make sure that there are no poor rural roads here. The entire district infrastructure is developing and will be updated.

Of course, the agricultural potential of the district is quite high. Much remains to be done in this direction. There is also potential for tourism. But the development of tourism and the rational use of its potential require suitable conditions. There must be roads, places to live and infrastructure. We are and will be creating that. Additional measures will be taken and funds allocated for the development of Goygol District, so that things always go well here.

During my previous visit we participated in the opening of a hospital together. Today the Flag Square was opened. This is also a very important issue. Our flag is a symbol of our statehood. Every city has a flag square now. These are innovations of modern Azerbaijan – in Baku and in every city. In all other directions too, whatever is available in Baku should be available in all other cities. I can say that Baku is not supplied with water by 100 per cent yet. The work done in Baku in recent years has helped us bring the level of continuous water supply to 78 per cent. In Goygol it is 100 per cent. Gasification in Baku is at the level of 96 per cent, while in Goygol it is at 100 per cent. This was made possible thanks to the implementation of regional development programs. Two programs have been realized. The third program will be adopted in the near future. It will also be a five-year program. It will reflect a specific five-year action plan for each district, including Goygol. Anyone can read the program to find out what is expected to be done in a particular district. The program is being drawn up largely on the basis of proposals from the ground. People’s wishes are taken into account. As you know, officials from government bodies are regularly sent to the regions, meet with people, listen and try to resolve their problems. Another program has been developed also on the basis of proposals received from the ground. We will resolve the remaining infrastructure and social issues in the coming five years, including the construction of schools. There are still schools requiring renovation in Goygol. Other social and infrastructure projects will be implemented.

I congratulate you on the opening of this wonderful facility, the sports center, and wish you good health and every success.